Every K-Drama Coming to Netflix, Viki, and More in May 2026

South Korean TV is creating a huge and enjoyable range of shows, as seen in the popular K-dramas already available on platforms like Netflix. While Netflix will continue to add new K-dramas through May 2026, viewers might miss out on even more variety found on streaming services such as Rakuten Viki and Kocowa+, which offer fresh series including time-travel romances, funny superhero takes, and adaptations of popular webcomics. There’s a K-drama dropping throughout May to appeal to all tastes.

New K-dramas are coming soon, featuring familiar faces like Park Eun-bin (from Extraordinary Attorney Woo) and fresh talent from recent hits like Bloodhounds and Phantom Lawyer. There’s plenty of comedy on offer, giving K-drama fans a great selection to watch throughout May 2026.

6. My Royal Nemesis

Where to Stream: Netflix
Studio(s): Studio Dragon, Studio S, Gill Pictures
Release Date: May 8, 2026

Fans of Korean webcomics and romantic fantasy will enjoy My Royal Nemesis. The story follows Kang Dan-shim, a villainess from Korea’s Joseon dynasty, who is mysteriously transported to the year 2026 after being poisoned. She finds herself inhabiting the body of actress Shin Seo-ri, and Lim Ji-yeon (known for The Tale of Lady Ok) portrays Dan-shim as she navigates this new life. Determined and resourceful, Dan-shim uses her cunning and past experience to seize this second chance in the modern world.

If you’re still on the fence, My Royal Nemesis offers all the delightful charm you expect from a romantic comedy. It features Cha Se-gye, a wealthy and tough heir, whose life unexpectedly connects with Seo-ri and her friend, Dan-shim. The story playfully combines the classic enemies-to-lovers trope with a unique twist: elements of a historical Joseon-era drama are woven into a modern South Korean setting through time travel. If you enjoyed shows like Bon Appétit, Your Majesty or Lovely Runner, you won’t want to miss it! My Royal Nemesis premieres on Netflix May 8, 2026, leading the wave of exciting new K-dramas.

5. The Legend of Kitchen Soldier

Where to Stream: Viki, HBO Max in select regions
Studio(s): Studio Dragon, Studio N
Release Date: May 11, 2026

I’m so excited about this new series! After the amazing second season of Bloodhounds, Studio N is teaming up with Studio Dragon to bring another fantastic story to life. It follows Kang Sung-jae, played by Park Ji-hoon, who enlists after his father passes away, hoping to support himself. It’s got that familiar ‘system’ element you see in a lot of power-fantasy manhwa, but with a really unique twist! Instead of becoming an overpowered hero saving the world, Sung-jae’s missions are all about becoming an incredible chef while serving in the military. Plus, he’s determined to find out what really happened to his father, so it’s got mystery and delicious food – what’s not to love?

The show sounds like a blast – a fun, lighthearted story with a surprisingly engaging mystery at its core, and some incredibly creative visuals. Plus, Lee Sang-yi, fresh off his return in Bloodhounds season 2, is joining the cast, which is great news for his fans! Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and Food Wars enthusiasts will especially enjoy the over-the-top reactions to the delicious (and likely unusual) food created by the main character as he starts a new chapter in his life while serving in the military. It’s shaping up to be one of the most entertaining K-dramas to watch in May 2026.

4. Azure Spring

Where to Stream: Kocowa+ and Viu in select regions
Studio(s): Oz Arena, Studio Dal
Release Date: May 11, 2026

If you loved the heartwarming feel of K-dramas like Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and Ahn Hyo-seop’s Sold Out on You, you’ll likely enjoy Azure Spring. This limited series, available on Kocowa+, follows Seo An-na (played by Red Velvet’s Yeri), a former swimmer who returns to her coastal hometown after an injury ended her athletic dreams. There, she meets Yun Deok-hyun (Kang Sang-jun), a man grappling with his own past. Together, they work to find new meaning in life as they train to become haenyeo, traditional female divers.

Fans of the K-drama Homecha will likely see similarities between its main characters and those in Azure Spring, especially in how they both end up in a peaceful coastal town. Azure Spring, set to air in May 2026, aims to be another comforting and emotionally resonant drama. Given the success of shows like Welcome to Samdal-ri in capturing this same heartwarming atmosphere, it will be interesting to see if this new, streamlined take on the formula feels as appealing and genuine.

3. The WONDERfools

Where to Stream: Netflix
Studio(s): Kakao Entertainment, Fantagio, Nangmancrew
Release Date: May 15, 2026

K-dramas are surprisingly great when combined with the superhero genre, offering a diverse mix of talented actors and imaginative powers. You’ll find everything from funny, self-aware shows like Strong Girl Bong-soon, to action-packed fantasies like The Uncanny Counter, and even newer series like Cashero. But The WONDERfools takes things back to 1999, following a quirky team of heroes as they try to protect their city from evil.

I’m so excited about this new series! It stars Park Eun-bin, who’s been amazing in everything she’s done – you probably know her from Extraordinary Attorney Woo, but she was also fantastic in the recent thriller Hyper Knife. In The WONDERfools, she plays Eun Chae-ni, a really quirky character who can teleport but has a fragile heart, all set against the backdrop of everyone freaking out about Y2K. But she’s not alone! She teams up with a group of other unique heroes to fight against a shadowy organization called Wunderkinder. It’s fascinating to learn that this project actually started as something based on Stan Lee’s The B-Team, but it eventually became its own completely original story. I can’t wait to see it!

2. Fifties Professionals

Where to Stream: Viki*
Studio(s): Studio Dragon, Jumbo Film
Release Date: May 22, 2026

If you’re looking for a realistic comedy, Fifties Professionals centers around three aging former tough guys. These men, once known as formidable figures – including experienced operatives for the Korean intelligence agency – have been out of work for ten years and are now dealing with the challenges of getting older. When a mystery from their past resurfaces, they team up to find out what happened a decade ago and why their lives changed so dramatically.

If you’re like me and love seeing familiar faces in your K-dramas, you’re in for a treat with this cast! I’m so excited to see Shin Ha-kyun again – he was fantastic as the villain in Park Chan-wook’s Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance! And Oh Jung-se? He’s been killing it with award-winning performances, most recently in Good Boy! Rounding out this amazing trio is Heo Sung-tae, who you might recognize as the first ghost in Phantom Lawyer or, famously, as the unforgettable Jang Deok-su from Squid Game season 1. They’re all coming together in Fifties Professionals, playing Jeong Heo-myung, Bong Je-soon, and Kang Bum-ryong, and I can’t wait to see them take on a new mission while dealing with all the ups and downs of middle age!

1. Reborn Rookie

Where to Stream: TBD**
Studios: SLL, Copus Korea
Release Date: May 30, 2026

While Alchemy of Souls used body swapping as a captivating fantasy element, Reborn Rookie applies this concept to the world of business. The story centers around professional soccer player Hwang Jun-hyeon (Lee Jun-young) and powerful businessman Kang Yong-ho, whose bodies are switched in an unexpected accident. This forces them to adapt to completely new and challenging lives.

Yong-ho finds himself unexpectedly in the body of a low-level player on his company’s football team, forcing him to start over from the very beginning. This allows him, now going by Jun-hyeon, to see things from the perspective of those he used to consider his subordinates. The series features Son Hyun-joo, known for his villainous roles in The WONDERfools, as Yong-ho, and Lee Jun-young, a star from Weak Hero Class 2 and Melo Movie, as Jun-hyeon. This fantasy promises a compelling blend of personal stories, mystery, and exciting football action.

2026-05-02 02:13